{"id":36447,"date":"2026-02-24T14:19:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T12:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/?p=36447"},"modified":"2026-03-20T07:37:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T05:37:12","slug":"sopa-2026-gauteng-has-no-water-crisis-only-infrastructure-failures-lesufi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/2026\/02\/24\/sopa-2026-gauteng-has-no-water-crisis-only-infrastructure-failures-lesufi\/","title":{"rendered":"SOPA 2026 | Gauteng has no water crisis, only infrastructure failures: Lesufi"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image credit: @GautengProvince\/X<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, has rejected claims that the province is facing a water availability crisis, insisting the current challenges stem from ageing infrastructure, leaks and peak demand pressures rather than a shortage of bulk supply.<\/p>\n

Delivering his fourth State of the Province Address in Johannesburg on Monday night, Lesufi sought to reassure frustrated residents who have endured prolonged outages, low pressure and inconsistent supply across parts of the metro.<\/p>\n

He says the disruptions were triggered by a major infrastructure failure in late January.<\/p>\n

The Premier placed water interventions at the centre of his address, noting that areas such as Midrand now have full access restored, with progress reported in several major townships, although localised challenges persist.<\/p>\n

An explosion, fire damage and a burst pipe at a key water treatment plant plunged parts of the province into emergency mode, with Midrand among the hardest hit. The incident sparked protests from residents over inconsistent supply.<\/p>\n

Lesufi also announced a R760-million infrastructure upgrade in the City of Johannesburg. The project includes the construction of new reservoirs, pump stations and expanded pipelines aimed at stabilising supply and preventing future breakdowns.<\/p>\n

“The areas that remain stubborn and extremely difficult to resolve the water challenges are part of Westdene, Coronationville, Sophia Town, Melville, Emmarantia and some sections of Doornkop,” he said.<\/p>\n

His remarks come amid heightened scrutiny after he recently revealed that water shortages at his official residence had occasionally forced him to shower at hotels.<\/p>\n

Turning to scholar transport, Lesufi warned unsafe operators that government would not be pressured into allowing unroadworthy vehicles to ferry learners.<\/p>\n

He reflected on the deadly crash in Vanderbijlpark earlier this year that claimed the lives of 14 learners.<\/p>\n

The accident occurred on the R553 when a minibus taxi transporting learners collided head-on with a truck. Investigations revealed the driver\u2019s professional driving permit had expired and the vehicle was allegedly not properly licensed. The 22-year-old driver remains behind bars, facing multiple charges including murder and reckless driving.<\/p>\n

Lesufi said monitoring and enforcement across the province would be strengthened.<\/p>\n

“We are willing to engage with this sector, but we are not willing to be bullied by those that think they can continue to drive skorokoros (unroadworthy vehicles) and take our children to school. When we stop them, they threaten us with mass action. We want safer transport so that our children are safe,” he added.<\/p>\n

Gauteng\u2019s scholar transport system remains under scrutiny, with concerns over regulatory lapses, reckless driving and unroadworthy vehicles placing learners at risk.<\/p>\n

In response, the provincial government has intensified inspections, temporarily suspended non-compliant operators and introduced stricter licensing requirements. A dedicated hotline has also been launched for parents and schools to report unsafe vehicles, while roadside monitoring operations have been ramped up.<\/p>\n

Lesufi further claimed that criminals in Gauteng are \u201crunning out of space\u201d as joint operations between police and the military begin to yield results.<\/p>\n

“The time to take chances in our province will be over soon and we hope and remain hopeful that the presence of the army will end gangstarrism in some of our townships and finally chase out the zamazamas (illegal miners) once and for all in our province,”<\/p>\n

He revealed that 75 AK-47 rifles and ammunition were recovered during coordinated raids in the West Rand, targeting illegal mining hotspots and gang activity.<\/p>\n

The intervention follows President Cyril Ramaphosa\u2019s announcement during the State of the Nation Address that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) would be deployed to support the South African Police Service (SAPS) in tackling organised crime in Gauteng and other provinces.<\/p>\n

Ramaphosa said the deployment was prompted by a surge in violent crime linked to illegal mining and gang activity, threatening community safety and state authority.<\/p>\n

The crackdown comes as hundreds of families displaced by violence linked to illegal mining in the West Rand settlement of Randgate remain in temporary shelter, refusing to return home until their safety is assured.<\/p>\n

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[RECAP]: #GPSOPA2026<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/CjXDlYem8j<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Gauteng Provincial Gov (@GautengProvince) February 24, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n